The Tech Report - Improving the PC as a gaming platform: the hardware.The new spec would clearly involve some compromises, since you can't simply step up and demand that every new computer feature a Radeon 7970, 32GB of RAM, and a six-core CPU with Hyperthingamabobs. However, let's take a page from our own System Guide's Econobox. MPC-HD could set the bar at, say, a Radeon 7770 graphics card ($120 or so) and a Core i3-3220 processor (around $130). Those components provide solid gaming performance at 1080p in the vast majority of titles, even with anti-aliasing enabled. They would be a perfectly reasonable baseline to aim for—one that provides many times the horsepower of current-generations consoles.

Setting a baseline would make life easier for developers, as well. Let's imagine MPC-HD has multiple levels, and when publishing your game, you can simply state that the minimum requirement is MPC-HD Level 1. That's easy for developers to code for, easy for buyers to follow, and easy for manufacturers to advertise and profit from. One can only wish.

Post CommentEnter the details of the comment
you'd like to post in the boxes below and click the button at
the bottom of the form.

This mini-rant was posted in the wrong thread, Thanks to Dev for pointing that out:

Bruno Ferreira wrote a controversial headline and failed to match the article's content to it.

His sophomoric assertions about PC hardware are incorrect, commonly available affordable PC hardware is more than capable of performing superbly with today's and yesterday's PC gaming software.

The problem with PC gaming is entirely, completely, and fully contained in the PC 'games' themselves. Software is the problem.

From always on DRM, to always on single-player games. From barely interactive cut-scene laden and quick-time embedded disposable 'AAA' snore-fests to tacky and frivolous 'casual' games festooned with 'ethical-microtransactions'.

Luckily there is an entire industries' catalog worth of player-centric PC games ready for you to explore; affordable and with your current hardware. Your PC can play Crysis.

Blame the PC gaming 'press' for refusing to focus on the issues, blame the near infinite presence of Steam shills, infecting nearly every thread on PC gaming, blame the influence of Hollywood demanding unreasonable returns on dubious pc gaming 'investments' and blame yourself for giving those vampires your money and attention.

GOG, indie games, Kickstarter, Linux (shudder!), Wine, Revisiting old titles, free-to-create game engine SDKs. These are what will advance PC gaming, not giving resources to those who want to deny you your hobby.